Feeding & Nutrition
Precision formulation of diets for laying hens can lead to significant cost savings to farmers through improved feed efficiency and better quality eggs. Investment in R&D will enable the development of practical nutritional management strategies which can be applied at a production system level to improve flock feed efficiency and egg quality.
The security of feed grains at economically viable prices is also important to egg business and will be pursued through cross-sector research collaboration. The outcomes of this investment will be to improve egg quality and reduce costs to egg businesses.
Key Resources
Egg Quality Reference Manual
This manual provides information on the factors affecting both the internal quality and egg shell quality.
R&D Resource Order Form
Use this form to order Australian Eggs resources for your farm, such as posters, signs and manuals.
Current Research
Managing pullets for extended layer life, improved productivity and shell quality
This project conducted by The University of Sydney explored strategies to extend the productive life of layer hens to 100 weeks while maintaining egg quality and flock health.
Completed Research
Optimising reduced-protein diets for an efficient and sustainable layer production
Research by the University of New England, funded by Australian Eggs, explored how to improve reduced protein diets for laying hens. The aim was to make egg production more cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Despite decades of research, challenges remain in optimising reduced-protein diets.
Layer specific NIR calibration for predicting apparent metabolizable energy (AME) of grains
This project aimed to improve the accuracy of Near Infrared Reflectance (NIR) calibrations for predicting the apparent metabolisable energy (AME) of cereal grains for laying hens. Conducted between July 2022 and May 2025, the study measured AME values of 72 Australian-grown wheat, barley, triticale, sorghum, and maize samples.
Quantifying the amount and bioavailability of iron in eggs
The quantity and bioavailability of iron (Fe) in eggs have been subject to ongoing debate. This study aimed to accurately quantify and characterise Fe speciation (including haem and non-haem Fe) in egg yolk, albumen and whole eggs, in both raw and cooked eggs.
Nutritional strategies for managing pullets and improving late lay egg quality
This project indicated that feeding pullets a high nutrient density diet during rearing improved late lay eggshell quality. Lighter pullets, fed a high nutrient density diet in rearing had a lifelong better FCR, compared to heavier pullets.
Barriers to the implementation of Max- profit and Stochastic models to industry
This research found that more resources and education may be needed to help nutritionists implement Stochastic and Max- profit feed formulation in the Australian layer industry.
The economics of layer diet amino acid levels throughout lay
With feed costs high and egg prices volatile, its important to explore alternate ways of maximising profits, which may mean challenging traditional production practices. Although formulating a layer diet which meets nutritional requirements at the lowest possible cost seems to make sense, there are alternative ways of formulating diets which can lead to greater profits.
Nutritional management of free range laying hens
Building on previous research, this project further investigated the preferences of individual hens to use the range. Using RFID technology, this project indicated that there are linkages between a hen's preference to use the range and health and performance throughout life.
Separate feeding of calcium for poultry
This series of studies investigated the presence and extent of an ‘appetite’ for an extra-dietary source of Ca in laying hens and established the optimum Ca and P concentrations and ratios of dietary Ca for optimum egg production and nutrient digestibility.
Pullet and layer flock uniformity: an epidemiological industry-based approach to improve feed efficiency
Benchmarking of flock uniformity and performance regarding persistency and longevity of lay achieved
Available phosphorus requirement of laying hens
Two experiments were conducted to determine the available phosphorus (AP) requirement of laying hens and to examine the effect of different dietary AP and calcium (Ca) concentrations on egg production and egg shell quality from the start of lay to 80 weeks of age.
Reducing the use of animal by-product meals in layer diets
Economic constraints and public concerns have compelled the poultry industry to increasingly use a range of cheaper, alternative plant-derived feedstuffs in feed formulations and eliminate the use of animal by-product meals.
Legumes for poultry: Improvement of lupins and lathyrus for broilers and egg layers by enzyme treatment
This research is aimed at making locally-produced legumes, lupins and lathyrus, acceptable substitutes for expensive imports such as soybean meal or animal-protein meals for inclusion in poultry diets.
Energy requirements of imported layer strains
This study aims to determine the required energy intake of layer hen strain in terms of dietary energy concentration, feed intake, egg output, body weight and body fat content, in order to design diets that are nutrition and cost effective.
Inflammatory response to diet in the hindgut of layers
The aim of the project was to investigate the effects of diet change over the short and long term in chickens, to determine whether this caused an inflammation of the hindgut tissues. .
Elimination of "fishy" taint in eggs from hens fed diets containing canola meal
When fed canola meal, the presence of a compound called sinapine in the meal often causes hens to lay eggs with a fishy taint.This study aims to identify the exact levels of sinapine that cause this, and to eliminate the phenomenon.
Projects you might find interesting
Barriers to the implementation of Max- profit and Stochastic models to industry
This research found that more resources and education may be needed to help nutritionists implement Stochastic and Max- profit feed formulation in the Australian layer industry.
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